"Fire News in the NW and Beyond"

WINTER STORM JONAS AKA BLIZZARD 2016 | NEW YORK | UPDATE 1

A severe Winter storm has slammed into parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern parts of our Nation. We will be providing Updates for each State as there is simply too much information to combine all into one blog post.

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED

On Saturday at 1430 EST, NY State Governor Cuomo issued a State of Emergency which has impacted many lives and saving thousands, if not millions. Here’s what we know so far.

ROAD TRAVEL BANS | This means that no one is to travel on any of the following roadways listed below or as a driver, you will face the consequences of being charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $300. Additional fines can also apply.

“Safety is our number one priority – and right now, it is not safe for the general public to travel,” said Governor Cuomo. “Closing the roads and exterior rail roads and subways is the right thing to do in this situation, because it helps emergency personnel do their jobs and respond to the storm as aggressively as possible. We are doing everything necessary to keep people safe, and I encourage all New Yorkers to wait out the storm indoors.”

– Governor Cuomo

NYC: Local and State roads are off-limits.

LONG ISLAND: State roadways, Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway have been close.

MANHATTAN: Law Enforcement is manning all road blocks during the State of Emergency Road Travel ban. If you are found to be on the roadway during this ban, you will face a misdemeanor charge with up to $300 in fines. Additional fines can be added for additional violations. The Executive Order has been signed by the Governor.

PORT AUTHORITY: All Tran-Hudson Crossings

WEATHER

According to the Governor’s Office, New York City is expected to see a snow accumulation of around 24-30″ and Long Island is expected to receive between 18-24″ of snow before Sunday. Heavy winds are expected to hit between 30-40 mph with wind gusts up to 55 mph. Visibility is likely to be like blizzard to whiteout conditions.

Power outages are expected due to the heavy amounts of snow predicted to continue in already hard-hit areas.

INFRASTRUCTURE

UTILITIES

We have provided you with a list of Utilities and who to contact in your area.

800-527-2714-Central Hudson

800-752-6633-Con Edison

718-643-4050-National Grid – Metro

800-930-5003-National Grid – LI

800-365-3234-National Fuel Gas

800-572-1111-NY State Electric & Gas

877-434-4100-Orange & Rockland

800-490-0075- PSEG Long Island

800-743-2110-RG&E

HISTORICAL BLIZZARDS ON RECORD

THE GREAT BLIZZARD OF 1888

Recorded as one of the worst blizzards on record occurred on March 11th through the 14th when an unmildly winter appeared out of normal, suddenly changed over to heavy rain followed by snow. The Great Blizzard of 1888 was said to be one of the area’s worst storms on record.

The storm began on March 12th after midnight as heavy rain began to fall. With temps dropped, snow immediately began dumping on to NJ, NY, MA, RI and CT. The storm continued for one-and-a-half days affecting the Nor’Easter States.

Significant events occurred during this storm deeming it one of the most severe blizzards in recorded history. Here are some of those highlights:

The storm is said to have dropped 20″ – 30″ of snow on Northern VT.

Snowdrifts reached 30-40′ high seen covering rooftops of homes from NY to NE.

58″ snow fell in Saratoga Springs, NY

48″ snow fell in Albany, NY

New Haven, CT received 45″

New York City felt the pain of 22″

Reports of 80 mph wind gusts but officially records indicate 40 mph with 54 mph wind gusts as being “official” in New York City

Sustained winds had an average of 45 mph that produced 50′ snowdrifts

Railroads shut down and residents were forced to shelter-in-place for up to a week.

The average temps were with a minimum of 6-degrees and a daytime high of only 8-degrees on March 13, 1888. It was the recorded as the coolest day on any record for the month of March.

This storm caused $25M [equals to $860M in our current day [2016]] and had a record of 400 deaths across Eastern U.S. and Eastern parts of Canada.

NORTH BLIZZARD OF 2006

Not much was found between the earlier years and 2006. What we do know is this extratropical and winter storm formed on Feb 11, 2006 touching the lives of those in the Mid Atlantic States and including Northern VA and ME. It was deemed to be a Cat 2.

The following day on Feb 12, 2006, it found its way to impacting major Cities such as Baltimore to Boston with 26.9″ accumulations in snow coverage to NYC. This was the most recorded since 1869, when the recordkeeping started. States such as VA, MD, DC, PA, NY, NJ, DE and NE were affected. Areas suffered $5M [2006 USD] in damages.

DEC 2010 BLIZZARD

This Dec major Nor’Easter and historic blizzard occurred on Dec 5 through the 29th of 2010 that affected large parts of Norfolk, Philly, NYC, Hartford, Providence and Boston with receiving up to 12-32″ in most areas. Impacted was NC, NYC, NJ, CT, ME, MA and Atlantic Canada and had in $80M in damages [2010 USD].

JAN 27 – 27, 2011 N AMERICAN BLIZZARD

This storm occurred in N’easter US and parts of Canada two weeks after a previous major Blizzard and struck the same affected areas already touched in earlier Jan.

JAN 31 – FEB 2, 2011 AMERICAN WINTER STORM aka Ground Hog Blizzard

This extratropical cyclone Blizzard, Ice Storm, Winter Storm and named tornado outbreak touched Central US< NE and the Great Lakes that dropped 27″ of snow on Antioch, IL. The storm incident caused $1.8B in damages and led to 36 deaths.

FEB 5-6, 2010 BLIZZARD aka Snowmageddon

The February 5-6, 2010 Blizzard or also known as “Snowmageddon” Category 3 [Major] extratropical cyclone, blizzard and winter storm caused 41 deaths. Te storm had 978MB that dropped 38.3″ of snow accumulations on Elkridge, MA. Impacted areas were Midwest and the East Coast from IL to NC to NY. Affects from this storm were felt by those North and West of Northern Mexico, CA and Southerner, Mid Western, Southwestern and most notably in the Mi Atlantic States. Severe weather took place in NM, VA, PA, MD. Landslides and Flooding occurred in Mexico. Widespread of snow accumulation of 20-35″ in Southern PA and Eastern States. No estimated cost of damages were known.

FEB 9-10, 2010 BLIZZARD

Three days later, the area experienced the effects of yet another extratropical and winder storms that would form on Feb 7th with a 969MB causing three deaths and dissipating on Feb 11th. It wasn’t yet soon enough as it largely impacted the Midwestern U.S., Mid Atlantic and the Northeast from States, such as IL to VA, VT, WA DC, New York City [NYC], Baltimore to New Jersey.

FEB 25-27, 2010 BLIZZARD

As you can see, there seems to be a pattern for the people living in these highlighted States with Blizzards not being so uncommon these days. This Blizzard was just like all the others as an extratropical, winter storm and blizzard. It formed on Feb 24 and dissipated on the 27. It was 972MB and dumped up to a high snow accumulation of 53″ in Potter Hollow, NY. It impact touched the lives of those in CT, DE, ME, MA, MD, NH, NJ, PA, RI, WV and Canada, our next-door neighbor.

MARCH 12 – 18, 2010 BLIZZARD

Not long after the previous storm, another one was ready in its wings to yet once again impact lives of those in CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI and VT. The extratropical cyclone was also a winter storm. It had 993 MB.

JAN 2015 aka Winter Storm Juno [Unofficially Named]

This Winter Storm as some named “Winter Storm Juno” dumped 36″ of snow on MA and had highest wind gusts up to 95 mph. The storm formed on Jan 11 and ended on Jan 31, 2015. The extratropical cyclone had 970 mb with wind speeds of 75 mph. It impacted CT, NJ, MA, RI and NY.